Costumes



Jan. 22; 1963 J. E. CARTER 3,074,714

' COSTUMES Filed Sept. 21, 1960 I'NVENTOR.

BY A

United States Patent 3,074,714 COSTUMES June E. Carter, P.O. Box 5785,Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Sept. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 59,553 13 Claims. (Cl.272-25) My invention relates to theatrical costumes and includes amongits objects and advantages an improvement in costumes for creatingillusions, in which a giant face is simulated, usually in semi-darkness.

In the .accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view, inclined slightly to one side, of such acostume in use;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view on a smaller scale with the parts in adifferent position;

FIGURE 3 is a full front view on the same scale as FIGURE 2, with theparts in still another position;

FIGURE 4 is a detail section as on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is :a detail section as on line 55 of FIG- URE 3.

- In the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the costumeincludes two cups and 12, each carefully fitted to one of the breasts ofthe wearer. These may be held in place in conventional ways such as byaflixing them to, or sewing them into a complete leotard, or skintightgarment, 14. The garment 14 of FIGURE 1 is of open mesh flesh coloredscrim leotard. I also provide a pleated skirt 16, of suflicient lengthto eliminate any exposure that might be considered immodest.

Substantially at the umbilicus, indicated at 18 in FIG- URE 4, Iposition an imitation mouth 20 having crimson lips and a horizontal slitat 22. On each of the cups 10 and 12 I place indicia representingimitation eyes 24 and 26 and these eyes and mouth 20 are made inapproximately natural proportions to correspond to a normal face thatwill be from 2 /2 to 3 /2 times the dimensions of the actual face of themodel wearing the costume.

Around the hips I position a belt-like girdle 28 which is colored toconstitute an imitation collar, with actual turned out lapels at 30 anda substantially genuine bow tie at 32.

At least the eyes, mouth and collar and bow tie are appliqued withfluorescent material adapted to emit strong illumination ofpredetermined wave lengths when subjected to incident radiation at ornear the ends of the visible spectrum. This makes it possible for themodel to maneuver with the stage substantially dark, and illuminatedonly to semi-darkness by the spotlight throwing the substantiallyinvisible light on the fluorescent material. There is thus created anarea of visibility substantially encircling the more luminous areas at10, 12, 20, 30 and 32. Within this area it is usually possible toperceive dimly the contour of the torso of the wearer, but suitablevariations in illumination can be used to substantially eliminate thatpart of subject matter viewed.

The verisimilitude may be further enhanced, as illustrated, by providinga relatively opaque upward extension from the collar 28, indicated inFIGURE -1 at 34. This extension goes up to the level of the imitationmouth and may have fluorescent material applied in imitation of a chin36 which may include a small goatee 38. I may also add an imitation noseat 40, and the detachable support for the nose comprises a light wiremember 42 bent for- .ward at 44 and then formed into a downwardlyopening hook 46.

It will be obvious that movements of the torso and shoulders of themodel will displace the eyes 10 and 12 into various relative positionswith respect to the mouth. To produce more noticeable effects of thissort, I provide each cup with a pull string 48 affixed to the cupapproximately at the outer point of the lune defining the imitation eye.It will be obvious that the model can hold both arms outstretched andhorizontal, with the ends of the pull strings in her hands, and make theeyes roll from side to side. To move the eye 10 in when the eye 12 ispulled out I provide a cross connection at 50 connecting the innerpoints of the imitation eyes so that when either eye is pulled away fromthe center the other eye will swing with it and an apparent rolling ofthe eyes will take lace.

The cross cord 50 forms a convenient support for the imitation nose 40and this makes it possible to move both eyes toward the center. This isbest done by pulling down on the nose 40, hearing in mind that the modeloperates in semi-darkness with the imitation eyes, mouth, and collarstrongly illuminated and everything else in fairly deep shadow. Anextremely cross-eyed and ludirous appearance can be produced by pullingboth eyes toward the center, either by pulling downward on the nose 49or by crossing the draw strings 48 across each other so that each stringwill pull its cup toward the center.

The illusion of a monstrous masculine face may be further enhanced byhaving the skirt 16, at least in front, just under the neck-tie 32,pleated at 52 in substantial imitation of a mans pleated shirt.

One of the most conspicuous items of display, when brought into play, isthe retractable tongue 54. This is a strip of fabric having a taperedouter end and carrying strongly fluorescent material. It is normallyhoused, as best indicated in FIGURE 4, within a receiving tube 56 formedbetween two plies of fabric constituting the upward extension 34. Thismaterial lies under the leotard 14. The tongue is normally held entirelywithin the pocket, as by a strip of elastic indicated at 58 in FIGURE 4,but its outer end carries a loop 60 of the same inconspicuous drawstring material as the strings 48. In FIGURE 2 the model has grasped theloop 60 with her right hand and drawn it out at an angle so that thegiant face is sticking his tongue out somewhat to the left. In FIGURE 3the model uses both hands so that the hands can be kept out of the areaof visibility, and the tongue has been drawn down for a similar gestureof disrespect or what have you.

The elastic 58 is of woven fabric with rubber inserts, and has adefinite limit of elongation, so that under certain circumstances themodel can exert more tension on the costume at this point than theresilience of the rubber in the extensible element 58 would produce.

It will be obvious that a wide variety of movements, including walkingto different positions on the darkened stage, may be practiced, andaccompanied by corresponding facial gestures.

For instance, if the body is allowed to sway slightly from side to sidethe movements of a slightly intoxicated person can be well simulated.With or without making such movements, if the body is swayed in onedirection, say, to the right, and the left shoulder is simultaneouslyshrugged upward, the imitation face will tilt and the left eye will risea little, making an exaggerated come-hither gesture with the face as awhole. Rising about 5 inches by going up on the right toe accentuatesthis gesture.

In FIGURE 2 the imitation face has a normal forward looking arrangement,but in FIGURE 1 the eyes are directed upward toward the balcony of thetheater. If the model also carries the draw cords 48 in her hands, thisupward displacement of the eyes can be materially increased into anattitude of prayer.

On the other hand, by letting the shoulders slump as much asconveniently possible, and bending the back into a forward arc, the eyesmay drop into a downwardly directed and dejected position as indicatedin FIGURE 3, and the tongue 54 is long enough to extend down into agrotesquely exaggerated expression suggesting the common cartoonentitled Sad Sack.

The variety of available expressions and movements is so great that noattempt is made here to enumerate them. The few items recited above willgive an adequate understanding of what can be accomplished.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditionsof service by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed, orequivalents thereof. It will be obvious that a wide variety ofcreatures, including not only people, but animals of all sorts, such asquadrupeds, birds, fish, turtles, saurians, and the complete repertoireof 21 Walt Disney menagerie, may be visualized as living, movingentities, before a variety of audiences. Furthermore, idealizedinanimate objects such as the old Dutch clock, and the dish running awaywith the spoon, lend themselves readily to portrayal with fancifulfeatures and/or organs afiixed to the model in such ways that bodilymovements of the model can appear as either bodily or facial contortionsof the entity portrayed. It will be obvious that the simulated eyeswould function equally well in connection with falsies worn by a personbiologically of the male sex, but equipped to impersonate a femaleperson. Such theatrical personnel are commonly called femaleimpersonators.

As at present advised, with respect to the apparent scope of myinvention, I desire to claim the following subject matter.

1. A costume for securing theatrical illusions comprising, incombination: an inconspicuous foundation garment; ornamentation carriedby said foundation in imitation of the features of a face large enoughto cover the front of the torso, with the eyes at locationscorresponding to the breasts of a female torso, and the other featuresapproximately proportinal; said features including an imitation mouthhaving a horizontal slit between the lips thereof; a flexible tongue insaid imitation mouth; and inconspicuous wearer-controlled means formoving said tongue manually out through said slit and holding itextended in any direction.

2. A costume for securing theatrical illusions comprising, incombination: an inconspicuous foundation garment covering the torso ofthe wearer; ornamentation carried by said foundation in imitation of thefeatures of a face large enough to cover the front of the torso, withthe eyes at locations corresponding to the breasts of a female torso,and the other features approximately proportional; said featuresincluding protuberant imitation eyes; and inconspicuous tension meansfor each eye adapted to displace the eye up or down or to either side,to vary the facial expression of the entirety.

3. A costume according to claim 2 in which said inconspicuous tensionmeans is a flexible cord dangling at large from its cup; whereby thewearer can cross the cords and turn both eyes inward to imitate across-eyed face.

4. A costume for securing theatrical illusions; said costume beingadapted to be worn by a theatrical performer, and comprising, incombination; a cup fitted to each breast of the wearer; each cupcarrying insignia simulating an open eye; an imitation mouth; and aninconspicuous flexible tension member connected to each cup; saidtension member, when not under manipulation by the wearer, hanging downin front of the body of the wearer, and being adapted to displace itscup up, down, or to either side when pulled in the desired direction bythe wearer, with the hands of the wearer outside a circle of visibilityencircling both cups; said imitation eyes and mouth being ofapproximately the proportions corresponding to a natural face severaltimes as large as the. actual face of the wearer; said imitation eyesand mouth being aifixed to an inconspicuous leotard fitted to the wearerand adapted to hold said eyes and mouth approximately in correctrelative positions during movement of the wearer with substantiallyentire freedom of movement; there being a rela tively conspicuousbelt-like girdle encircling the hips of the wearer; said girdle carryingan imitation collar and a knotted necktie, proportioned to harmonizewith said eyes and mouth; said leotard being of flesh-c0lored open meshfabric; said girdle portion including a central upward extension infront; said extension carrying indicia simulating a chin; said chinhaving natural proportions with respect to said imitation eyes, mouthand collar.

5. A costume according to claim 4 in which said month has a horizontalslot between the lips thereof; there being a flexible imitation tongueconcealed behind said mouth and adapted to be pulled out through saidslot and extended in any direction.

6. A costume according to claim 5 in which the tip of said imitationtongue carries inconspicuous tension means adapted to be grasped byeither hand of the wearer for withdrawing and positioning said tongue ata variety of angles, and to a variety of distances, while keeping thehand or hands of the wearer outside a circle of visibility centered atsaid mouth and having a radius not materially greater than the length ofsaid tongue when extended to its maximum extension.

7. A costume according to claim 6 in which the maximum extension of saidton ue is materially greater than the proper proportion with respect tosaid eyes and mouth.

8. A costume according to claim 5 in which said imitation tongue, whenconcealed, lies extending downward from said mouth slot and behind saidimitation chin.

9. A costume according to claim 8 in combination with an elastic tensionmember housed behind said chin and adapted to retract said tongue.

10. A costume according to claim 9 in which said elastic tension memberhas a predetermined fixed limit of stretch, whereby the wearer can exerttension on the entire garment at the point of attachment of said elastictension member, greater than the elastic action of said tension member.

11. A costume according to claim 10 in which said tongue, whenconcealed, extends down in front below the level of said imitationcollar.

12. A costume for securing theatrical illusions; said costume beingadapted to be worn by a female performer, and comprising, incombination; a cup fitted to each breast of the wearer; said cups beingconnected by a cross member; each cup carrying insignia simulating anopen eye; an imitation mouth; and an inconspicuous flexible tensionmember connected to each cup; said tension member, when not undermanipulation by the wearer, hanging down in front of the body of thewearer, and being adapted to displace its cup up, down, or to eitherside when pulled in the desired direction by the wearer, with the handsof the wearer outside a circle of visibility encircling both cups; saidimitation eyes and mouth being of approximately the proportionscorresponding to a natural face several times as large as the actualface of the wearer; said imitation eyes and mouth being aflixed to aninconspicuous leotard fitted to the wearer; means for pulling the centerof said cross member in a vertical direction, to draw both cups towardthe center and produce a grotesque and cross-eyed appearance; saidpulling means being an imitation nose; said nose having a forwardlyoffset top hook member for hanging it on said cross member; said nosebeing of approximately normal proportions compared with said eyes andmouth.

13. A costume for securing theatrical illusions comprising, incombination: an inconspicuous foundation garment covering the torso ofthe weaver; ornamentation carried by said foundation in imitation of thefeatures of a.

human face large enough to cover the front of the torso, with the eyesat locations corresponding to the breasts of a female torso, and theother features approximately proportional; said features includingprotuberant imitation eyes; and inconspicuous tension means for each eyeadapted to displace the eye up or down or to either side, to vary thefacial expression of the entirety.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Read Nov. 10, 1936 Cohn May 9, 1939 HarmonDec. 28, 1949 Reger June 27, 1950 6 Montez June 22, 1954 Bennett July 6,1954 SWann Sept. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Oct. 16, 1951

1. A COSTUME FOR SECURING THEATRICAL ILLUSIONS COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION: AN INCONSPICUOUS FOUNDATION GARMENT; ORNAMENTATION CARRIEDBY SAID FOUNDATION IN IMITATION OF THE FEATURES OF A FACE LARGE ENOUGHTO COVER THE FRONT OF THE TORSO, WITH THE EYES AT LOCATIONSCORRESPONDING TO THE BREASTS OF A FEMALE TORSO, AND THE OTHER FEATURESAPPROXIMATELY PROPORTIONAL; SAID FEATURES INCLUDING AN IM-